Design Summary Reader Response - Draft 4 (Final Draft)

 The Economic Times released an article “What are solar light panels and how do they work” (2019) that explained to readers the purpose, application, and features of solar light panels. Solar Panels consist of solar cells that are made from silicon crystals, which are the main semiconductive material used in photovoltaic technology to generate solar power from sunlight. The same article stated that “The solar light panel system comprises of PV modules, electrical connections, mounting hardware, power conditioning equipment and batteries for storing the generated electricity” (2019). Since the system has a small number of components, it can be easily installed in homes, modes of transportation, industrial estates, and streetlights to reduce electricity costs and, indirectly global warming. In addition, solar panels can also be used in a variety of climates and extreme environmental conditions, for example, saltwater environments due to the design (Marsh, 2017). Solar panels usually have a glass and metal frame that surrounds the panel, making it very sturdy and durable and, allowing it to fit a wide range of requirements (Shauna, 2022).

As global warming continues to increase, Singapore should invest in its solar panel systems for all streetlights considering the potential benefits of solar power as a means of generating electricity cleanly, reducing electricity costs, and requiring low maintenance due to the system’s simple wiring.

 

When it comes to generating electrical energy, fossil fuels are a limited resource and are bound to run out in the near future (METGroup, 2021). It also provides huge quantities of carbon dioxide when burned. All the carbon emission that is released into the atmosphere is capable of trapping heat from the sun, leading to severe climate change (Denchak, 2022). On the other hand, solar energy can generate clean electricity with a minimal carbon footprint. It has the potential to replace the production of electricity using fossil fuel, particularly in equatorial regions where the sun shines directly and intensively (Gonzalez, 2005). For instance, Singapore, located 85 miles north of the equator (Thomas, 2022) has a “typical average daily irradiation of 4,38kWh/m2, which is equivalent to a peak intensity of 1000W/m2 or 1kW/m2 for a duration of 4.38 Hours or simply 4.38 peak sun hours (PSH)” (SolarGY, n.d). Utilizing solar panels in these scenarios will greatly reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and reduces global warming. Moreover, technological advancement has increased the efficiency of solar panels further, enabling them to function even at night by converting infrared heat into electricity using a thermo-radiative diode (Anderer, 2022). Therefore, solar panels should be used on streetlights as they can be used to generate electrical energy cleanly and fulfilling Singapore’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint.

Pertaining to the reduction in costs, installing SP on streetlights could reduce electricity bills in the long run. As of 2014, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been using LED Diodes to replace sodium vapor lamps that date back to 1969 (Land Transport Authority, 2017). These LED Diodes generally consume about 80 watts of power to function (Tapetum India, 2021) and they can be offset with 100W SPs which have the capability of generating 280 to 450W of energy per day (Hyder, 2022). Additionally, the amount of electricity generated can be used to power other areas such as HDB, police cameras, or even traffic lights. Due to the supply constraints for fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal, electricity prices have risen tremendously in recent years. Choosing an alternative energy source such as solar energy, which is free and abundant, and carbon-free would be a more cost-effective and longer-lasting option.

 

Moreover, SPs streetlights could reduce the need for maintenance and costs associated with them due to their simplicity and efficiency. As opposed to conventional streetlights, Karat’s article informs how solar streetlights utilize minimal wiring (2021) and do not require underground cables to be run under the streets and sidewalks to connect to the power grid. As a result, they are less susceptible to connection problems. The solar-powered lights also use components that have a long life, which reduces the need for further maintenance and care after their installation (Karat, 2021). Thus, in comparison to conventional streetlights, solar street lights require almost no maintenance which would lower the maintenance costs and manpower associated with it. 

 

However, theft is one of the major concerns associated with solar-powered streetlights. Depending on the size of the solar panel, solar-powered streetlights’ batteries can vary from $200 to $350 (EnGoPlanet, n.d). As solar streetlights are non-wired and individually installed, thieves could easily disassemble the system and sell the battery for money. An alternative method to prevent theft of this expensive part includes placing a maintenance-free battery inside the battery box before installing it one meter into the ground or cement pool (Luxman, 2021). Additionally, 90,000 police cameras have been installed in Singapore, and this number will increase to 200,000 by 2030 (Chua, 2021). Thus, this would serve as a deterrence and potential solution to the theft of solar-powered streetlight batteries. 

In conclusion, a solar panel is an effective way of converting energy cleanly, especially in Singapore, where the country is exposed to direct sunlight every day. The infinite source of solar energy makes solar panels a cost-efficient and alternative green energy. Furthermore, SP's simplicity reduces the need for maintenance, which reduces both costs and manpower and translates them into a significant advantage over conventional streetlights. In spite of the fact that solar panels are more prone to theft, this can easily be avoided by modifying the installation and implementing additional security measures. As a result, solar-powered streetlights are a viable alternative to conventional streetlights due to their overwhelming advantages. 

 

References

Anderer, J. (2022, May 18). Solar Power at night? new study suggests it may be possible. Study Finds. https://studyfinds.org/solar-power-at-night/.

Chua, N. (2021, Oct 10). More than 200,000 police cameras to be installed Islandwide by 2030. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/more-than-200000-police-cameras-to-be-installed-islandwide-by-2030.

Denchak, M. (2022, June 01). Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts. NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts#:~:text=Fossil%20fuels%20produce%20large%20quantities,quarters%20of%20our%20carbon%20emissions.

EnGoPlanet. (n.d). Cost of Lithium and VRLA Battery for solar streetlights? https://www.engoplanet.com/single-post/2017/07/11/cost-of-lithium-and-vrla-battery-for-solar-street-lights.

Gjokik, A. (2017, July 25). Are solar streetlights low maintenance? Lightinus. https://www.lightinus.com/are-solar-street-lights-low-maintenance/.

Gonzalez, G. (2005, Jan 08). Solar Energy Potential at Different Latitudes. AltEnergyMag. https://www.altenergymag.com/article/2005/08/solar-energy-potential-at-different-latitudes/120/#:~:text=At%20the%20equator%2C%20the%20sun,highest%20level%20of%20solar%20energy.

Hyder, Z. (2022, Mar 28). Understanding the 100-watt solar panel kit and its uses. SolarReviews. https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/100-watt-solar-panel#:~:text=A%20100%2Dwatt%20solar%20panel%20will%20produce%20between%20280%2D450W,300%20and%20450%20W%20each.

Karat, P. (2021, April 23). Maintenance of solar lights. Tapetum India. https://tapetum.in/blogs/solar/maintenance-of-solar-lights.

Land Transport Authority. (n.d). Smarter and more Energy-Efficient Street Lighting System by 2022.
https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2017/1/2/smarter-and-more-energy-efficient-street-lighting-system-by-2022.html.

Leinbach, T.R. (2022, Oct 8). Singapore. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Singapore.

Luxman. (2021, Aug 20). Stolen solar streetlight - luxman solar lighting manufacturer. https://www.luxmanlight.com/how-to-prevent-people-from-stealing-your-solar-street-light/.

Marsh, J. (2017, Nov 29). Can Solar Panels withstand salt & corrosion? EnergySage. https://news.energysage.com/solar-panels-resistant-salt-corrosion/#:~:text=The%20materials%20your%20solar%20panels,resistant%20metal%20for%20salty%20conditions.

METGroup. (2021, Jan 18). When will fossil fuels run out? https://group.met.com/en/mind-the-fyouture/mindthefyouture/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out#:~:text=It%20is%20predicted%20that%20we,our%20reserves%20can%20speed%20up.

Shauna. (2022, May 03). The anatomy of a solar panel. Sunseap. https://www.sunseap.com/sg/blog/2022/sunseap-shares-the-anatomy-of-a-solar-panel.html

SolarGY. (n.d). FAQS. http://solargy.com.sg/new/index.php?route=information%2Ffaq&page=2.

Tapetum India. (2021, June 23). How much power does a regular streetlight consume? https://tapetum.in/blogs/solar/how-much-power-does-a-regular-street-light-consume.

The Economic Times. (2019, May 7). What are solar light panels and how do they work. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/productline/power-generation/what-are-solar-light-panels-and-how-do-they-work/articleshow/69130408.cms?from=mdr.